Time and Again

Transported from the mid-twentieth century to New York City in the year 1882, Si Morley walks the fashionable "Ladies' Mile" of Broadway, is enchanted by the jingling sleigh bells in Central Park, and solves a 20th-century mystery by discovering its 19th-century roots. Falling in love with a beautiful young woman, he ultimately finds himself forced to choose between his lives in the present and the past. A story that will remain in the listener's memory, Time and Again is a remarkable blending of the troubled present and a nostalgic past....

Where does Time and Again rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I would put this book in the top twenty percent of the audiobooks I've listened to so far, though just where in that twenty percent might vary from day to day. Once I really got into it, I couldn't put the book down. And the narrator is incredibly easy to listen to.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Time and Again?

I've often wondered what someone from the past would think of our modern world. The telling of Julia's experiences in the twentieth century does a nice job, I feel, of dealing with that question, and that had to be the most memorable moment for me.

Which scene was your favorite?

See my answer to the previous question as, in this case, "most memorable" equals "favorite".

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A Time Traveler with Ethics

Any additional comments?

My only gripe with the plot is that I fel the idea of time travel through hypnosis is a bit corny. It almost had me thinking unfavorably about the book at first: I was going to finish it because I wanted to know how it ended. But once I got past that issue, I found myself carried away by the story, and I can understand why Stephen King, in his comments at the end of 11/22/63, praised this book as much as he did. I highly recommend it.

Gray Mountain

The year is 2008 and Samantha Kofer's career at a huge Wall Street law firm is on the fast track - until the recession hits and she gets downsized, furloughed, escorted out of the building. Samantha, though, is one of the "lucky" associates. She's offered an opportunity to work at a legal aid clinic for one year without pay, after which there would be a slim chance that she'd get her old job back. In a matter of days Samantha moves from Manhattan to Brady, Virginia, population 2,200, in the heart of Appalachia, a part of the world she has only read about.

What made the experience of listening to Gray Mountain the most enjoyable?

Grisham has a way of making you like his characters, even some of the bad guys. Seeing Samantha respond to the harsher, non-sheltered real world was enjoyable.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

It was about what I'd expected. It definitely wasn't a surprise ending. When the law firm left Earth to go back to its home planet ... oh wait, that didn't happen. Seriously, if you're looking for big surprise endings, you won't find one in the book, though there are other surprises in the book that you won't have seen coming.

What does Catherine Taber bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Over all, I like her reading style. It seemed a touch monotonous at first, but that was a misinterpretation on my part.

Any additional comments?

Grisham is uncharacteristically obsessed with the sex lives of his characters in this book. Nothing explicit, but much more implicit than I'm used to in a Grisham book, and I'm not sure it adds anything to the story, especially the hormones of some of the minor characters.

Die Again: Rizzoli & Isles

Boston Detective Jane Rizzoli is on the case of a big game hunter found dead in his apartment, alone with the body of a beautiful white snow leopard he had recently been commissioned to procure and stuff for a high-profile museum in the area. Medical examiner Maura Isles connects the case to a number of seemingly unrelated deaths where the victims have all been found hanging upside down, the hallmark of a leopard's kill.

What made the experience of listening to Die Again the most enjoyable?

Ms. Gerritsen continues to build, to define, and to evolve her main characters as the series progresses. There is not a lot of stagnation because of worn-out characterizations. Just as in real life, there's always something new to learn about people you come to adopt as a sort of "fictional family".

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jane Rizzoli has, from the second book onward, been my favorite character in the series, and this remains true in Die Again. To me, Rizzoli was very unlikable in the book, but she has proven willing and able to learn, to improve herself, as the series continues. The reader is thus forced to grow in his or her understanding of Rizzoli, and if the reader is open-minded, he or she quickly realizes how humanly likable she really is.

What about Tanya Eby’s performance did you like?

Ms. Eby clearly understands the material and involves herself in it. She's not a passive narrator just dispensing the words.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

If such a moment occurred, it was when Millie made her decision and chose not to side with Johnny. I don't want to say too much more for fear of giving away the plot.

Any additional comments?

One of the plights of the mystery writer is that he or she must make each book in a series a little more gruesome than the last, so the hero cop can say, "This is the worst I've ever seen" each time. Die Again is not for the squeamish. There also seems to be something of a disdain for testosterone in this book. As a male reader, I found myself more than a few times wondering, as I read, "We're not all hideous, are we?"

But over all, this has been a fantastic read, and I look forward to the next novel in the series ... and there had better be one, because there are a lot of subplot questions left unanswered.

The Accidental Time Machine

Joe Haldeman is the esteemed Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of The Forever War. Things are going nowhere for lowly MIT research assistant Matt Fuller - especially not after his girlfriend drops him for another man. But then while working late one night, he inadvertently stumbles upon what may be the greatest scientific breakthrough ever. His luck, however, runs out when he finds himself wanted for murder - in the future.

I would rewrite the second half or so of the book to build on the strong beginning. It's almost as if this book is a combination of two efforts, the strong first-half effort and the weak, silly second-half effort.

Would you ever listen to anything by Joe Haldeman again?

I'd be willing to give him another chance. The first half of the book reveals him to be a very good author.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

I would not. I think the movie would be all special effects to try to capture the second half, and to me a plot is more important than effects.

Any additional comments?

I was really excited about this book when I started reading, as I'm now into a phase in my science-fiction-reading career where time travel intrigues me. But the silly second half of the book made me want to just finish the thing so I could at least find out how it ends, then move on. I also don't like authors mixing religion and science fiction. Too many authors these days use their books as platforms to expound on their negative view of religion. If there were such a thing as Christian science fiction, I would not read it either; when I pick up a sci fi book, I want the sci fi, not a sermon, no matter what the author's religious views might be.

The Burning Room

In the LAPD's Open-Unsolved Unit, not many murder victims die almost a decade after the crime. So when a man succumbs to complications from being shot by a stray bullet nine years earlier, Bosch catches a case in which the body is still fresh, but all other evidence is virtually nonexistent. Now Bosch and rookie Detective Lucia Soto, are tasked with solving what turns out to be a highly charged, politically sensitive case.

What made the experience of listening to The Burning Room the most enjoyable?

The story line is gripping, fresh, and a very enjoyable read. Bad as the narration was, the story itself is first-rate.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

You kind of have an idea what's going on in the book, but you are with Bosch and Soto all the way as they try to unrevel the clues, confirm their hunches and validate their gut feelings. Along the way, you "learn the ropes" with Detective Soto, Bosch's newest partner, as she herself learns from the best.

Would you be willing to try another one of Titus Welliver’s performances?

Maybe this book is an anomaly, I don't know. I'd certainly listen to the sample clip of another book read by him and base my opinion on that.

Any additional comments?

I really dislike giving bad reviews of narrations, but the monotonous reading of this book make it much easier to read than to listen to. But don't let the narration put you off. Michael Connelly has superbly crafter this, the latest Harry Bosch book. Bosch is to the United States, in this Canadian's view, what Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks is to Britain.

The Martian

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first. But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?"

Much of what was in the book was speculation - the subject matter and future setting necessitate this - but it is remarkably plausible. But the book neither deteriorates into real or imagined technobabble, nor does it talk down to the reader. The author strikes a terrific balance of science, suspense, and human interest.

What did you like best about this story?

This was a rare book that hooked me from the first paragraph and kept me hooked until the last punctuation mark.

Which scene was your favorite?

It's hard to pick just one, so I'll say that, collectively, the scenes where things go badly wrong are my favorite, because of the realistic way Mark allows himself to freak out initially, but then forces himself to calm down, take stock of the situation, and deal with it rationally.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Apollo Thirteen, The Next Generation

Any additional comments?

Rarely do I read a bok and have no complaints about it. The Martian is one such book. Mr. Weir has taken a plausible premise, constructed a believable plot around it, and dishes these out to the reader in a griping, leave-you-wanting-more story. I hope there are many more books by MR. Weir to come.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder

In her first foray into the sleuthing game, resourceful, red-headed Hannah Swensen must find the right ingredients to solve two perplexing murders. One chilly morning on her way to The Cookie Jar, Hannah discovers Ron, the dairy delivery man, shot dead in his truck. When she begins to investigate, she suspects the dairy owner. But when he, too, is murdered, Hannah must look further afield for the culprit.

It's hard to pin it down to one or two things. I like Ms. Fluke's fun, inoffensive style. Even though there's murder involved (and I'm a big murder mystery fan), this series of books provides a light, enjoyable, good-natured read. It's nice, too, to read a book that doesn't resort to five expletives on every line. As a guy, I'm surprised I like this book as much as I do, but there's no denying it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder?

I think that would be the lead-up to, and the finding of the second body. You kind of know it's about to happen, but you're still caught up in how exactly it does happen.

Which scene was your favorite?

I think any scenes involving the child Tracey are my favorite.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The Antedote to Low-Fat Gore

Any additional comments?

The narration in this book is also terrific. My only complaint is that the narrator has a slight problem keeping her different voices consistent. But that's okay, she still does a terrific job.

11-22-63: A Novel

On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas, President Kennedy died, and the world changed. What if you could change it back? In this brilliantly conceived tour de force, Stephen King - who has absorbed the social, political, and popular culture of his generation more imaginatively and thoroughly than any other writer - takes listeners on an incredible journey into the past and the possibility of altering it.

This book is superb. If you like science fiction, it has it; if you're into romance, it has that, too; if you're into philosophy, it delivers. If you like action, it's not nonstop but it's there. And if you like humor, it's got some of that too.

What did you like best about this story?

Where does one start? I like King's attention to detail, I like his making the characters very human, and I love stories about time travel, paradoxes and temporal conflict.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The narrator is a very good reader, and he clearly understand the material, which is important in good narration. I hate to publicly criticize someone for their voice, because it seems like a hugely unfair criticism, but this narrator's voice is difficult for me to get used to.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The very ending of the book was moving to me. I don't want to give it away, so all I'll say is that King had originally planned a different ending, but he took his son's advice and changed it. I think this was a very wise decision, and I very much liked the result.

Any additional comments?

This book has me very hungry for more books like it. In my view, if a book can do that, it's a winner. King depicts the "land of Ago", as he calls it, very interestingly, pointing out its good and its bad points. I also was fascinated by the portrayal (I won't go into any detail) of what the world would be like had JFK not been murdered. I also like the fact that the main character, writing in the first person, is an English teacher. Being a grammar freak, this means I could read more of the book without cringing over improper usage in the narration itself, something all to common in modern writing.

The Cuckoo's Calling

After losing his leg to a land mine in Afghanistan, Cormoran Strike is barely scraping by as a private investigator. Then John Bristow walks through his door with an amazing story: his sister, the legendary supermodel Lula Landry, famously fell to her death a few months earlier. The police ruled it a suicide, but John refuses to believe that. The case plunges Strike into the world of multimillionaire beauties, rock-star boyfriends, and desperate designers, and it introduces him to every variety of pleasure, enticement, seduction, and delusion known to man.

I would. The narration is excellent, the plot is gripping, and the story is well-told. It's also complex enough that, in time, I'll have forgotten much of it so will enjoy it again.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character was Robin: smart, funny, tactful, very human.

What about Robert Glenister’s performance did you like?

A good narrator understand the material he or she is reading. This was very much in evidence in this book. If you come away from a good read feeling that many of the characters actually ahve the voices the narrator has given them, it speaks volumes for the narrator.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Beware of Falling Bodies

Any additional comments?

Some have compared this book to the work of P.D. James. I don't think this is at all an appropriate comparison. The heroes are very different, as is the writing style.

My only gripe with this book is that if feels as though the author, not able to use profanity in the Harry Potter books, is trying to make up for list time in this book. I'm no prude, but I do feel that more profanity is used in this book than is necessary for realism.

Because I Said So!: The Truth Behind the Myths, Tales, and Warnings Every Generation Passes Down to Its Kids

Ken Jennings is here to tell us that mother and father didn't always know best. Yes, all those years you were told not to sit too close to the television (you'll go blind!), or swallow your gum (it stays in your stomach for seven years!), or crack your knuckles (arthritis!) are called into question by our country's leading trivia guru. Jennings separates myth from fact to humorously debunk a wide variety of parental edicts: no swimming after meals, sit up straight, don't talk to strangers, you'll get worms from cookie dough, and so on.

Where does Because I Said So! rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the most fun books I've read in a long time, I'd call it informingly entertaining.

What did you like best about this story?

I like the fact that the book was well-researched without taking itself too seriously.

Which scene was your favorite?

This not being a novel, there were no scenes as such. It's difficult to pick a favorite section.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

You paid eight bucks to see an informational video?

Any additional comments?

Since this isn't a novel, a lot of the questions don't really apply. But this really was a tremendous book. Jennings reads his own book very well, if slightly more quickly than I would have liked. Clearly, he has done careful research to be as accurate as he can be, so while I wouldn't regard the book as a textbook, it is still, I think, a good secondary source. Children will get a sense of why parents say the things they do, and parents may be able to laugh at themselves a little and be a little more realistic in their pronouncements. If you are neither parent or child, this book will still put a smile on your face.

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